Mat

ABSTRACT

A mat having a variable aesthetic appearance and enhanced supporting strength includes a plurality of weft and warp threads that are interwoven. Each of the weft and warp threads includes first, second, and third plastic yarns that are inter-twisted. In one embodiment, the first, second and third plastic yarns have different colors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mat, more particularly to a mat having a variable aesthetic appearance and enhanced supporting strength.

2. Description of the Related Art

A mat woven from plastic threads is conventionally used in the manufacture of furniture in view of the strong supporting characteristics thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional mat 1 used in the manufacture of furniture is shown to include a plurality of weft threads 12 and a plurality of warp threads 11 that are interwoven to form the mat 1. Since each of the weft threads 12 and the warp threads 11 is in the form of a single plastic yarn, the conventional mat 1 made therefrom has insufficient supporting strength, and has less variety in appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a mat having a variable aesthetic appearance and enhanced supporting strength.

The mat according to this invention includes a plurality of interwoven weft and warp threads. Each of the weft and warp threads includes inter-twisted first, second, and third plastic yarns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of a conventional mat;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the mat according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a thread used in the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a plastic yarn of the thread of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the mat 3 of the preferred embodiment of this invention is shown to include a plurality of weft and warp threads 2′,2 that are interwoven. Each of the weft and warp threads 2′,2 includes first, second, and third plastic yarns 21,22,23 that are inter-twisted. At least two of the first, second, and third plastic yarns 21,22,23 have different colors so as to increase the variety of the mat appearance made therefrom. In this preferred embodiment, the first, second, and third plastic yarns 21,22,23 have different colors. Preferably, each of the first, second, and third plastic yarns 21,22,23 has a circular cross-section, and includes a hollow member 211 and a plurality of monofilaments 212 formed within the hollow member 211, as best shown in FIG. 4.

In view of the aforesaid, as compared to the mat of the prior art, the mat of this invention can achieve an improvement in supporting strength and in aesthetic appearance over the prior art.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A mat comprising a plurality of interwoven weft and warp threads, each of said weft and warp threads including inter-twisted first, second, and third plastic yarns.
 2. The mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second, and third plastic yarns includes a hollow member and a plurality of monofilaments formed within said hollow member.
 3. The mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of said first, second, and third plastic yarns have different colors.
 4. The mat as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first, second, and third plastic yarns have different colors.
 5. The mat as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second, and third plastic yarns has a circular cross-section. 